11/14/2019 – A lot of young talents like Praggnanandhaa, Sindarov, Abdusattorov, Gukesh etc. have tried their best to break Sergey Karjakin's record of becoming the youngest GM in the world at the age of 12 years and 7 months. But they all missed it by a small margin. Who has the best chance to break this record now? Well, it's a 10-year-old American boy of Indian origin who lives in New Jersey. Meet Abhimanyu Mishra, the youngest IM in the world. The youngster achieved this feat on November 8th 2019, at the age of 10 years 9 months and 3 days, thereby eclipsing Praggnanandhaa's record of the youngest IM by 17 days. Learn more about the youngster through this article and have a glimpse of his chess skills through the annotated game that he has sent us!
Chess Festival Prague 2025 with analyses by Aravindh, Giri, Gurel, Navara and others. ‘Special’: 27 highly entertaining miniatures. Opening videos by Werle, King and Ris. 10 opening articles with new repertoire ideas and much more. ChessBase Magazine offers first-class training material for club players and professionals! World-class players analyse their brilliant games and explain the ideas behind the moves. Opening specialists present the latest trends in opening theory and exciting ideas for your repertoire. Master trainers in tactics, strategy and endgames show you the tricks and techniques you need to be a successful tournament player! Available as a direct download (incl. booklet as pdf file) or booklet with download key by post. Included in delivery: ChessBase Magazine #225 as “ChessBase Book” for iPad, tablet, Mac etc.!
The Scandinavian with 3...Qd6 could just as well be called “The Tiviakov System”. On this DVD GM Sergei Tiviakov shows you everything you need to know to be able to play 3...Qd6 yourself at once.
“Dynamic Play” is your ultimate guide to mastering aggressive strategies and dominating the board. With practical tips, exercises, and game analysis, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to outplay any opponent.
€39.90
Prodigy watch
On of May 30th 2016, at the age of 10 years, 9 months and 20 days, Praggnanandhaa scored his final IM norm and became the youngest International Master in the history of chess. No one believed that this record could be broken in the near future. After all, 10 years 9 months is just so young! But here we are, three and a half years later, and Abhimanyu Mishra from the United States has already eclipsed Pragg's record!
Abhimanyu achieved his final IM norm at the Chess Max Academy 1st Fall GM Invitational. Starting as the eighth seed Abhimanyu was a picture of solidity as he scored nine draws out of nine rounds to achieve his final IM norm. With this performance, the youngster completed all the requirements for his IM title.
The final round of the event ended on the 8th of November 2019. Abhimanyu, born on February 5th 2009, thus achieved his IM title at the age of 10 years, 9 months and 3 days. This is 17 days faster than Praggnanandhaa. Abhimanyu Mishra is now the youngest IM in the world.
The youngest IM in the world | Photo: David Llada
Abhimanyu made his maiden IM norm at the Chess Max Academy Summer GM Norm Invitational
Praggnanandhaa is a world class player and it seemed almost impossible to break his record. I feel proud that Abhimanyu has managed to do that. It is a dream come true for the entire family. Abhimanyu has been working very hard for past three years. In that process, he became youngest Expert and Master in USA chess history as well. There have been many failures on the way but the whole team was determined to take on the challenge.
Abhimanyu with his father Hemant and GM Maxim Dlugy
It was Abhimanyu's father Hemant who taught him the rules of chess when he was just two and a half years old!
So who are the members of Team Abhimanyu? Says Hemant:
I would like to thank GM Arun Prasad, GM Magesh Panchanthan and WFM Anuprita Patil for their hard work and support in his journey. I would also like to thank Kasparov Chess Foundation team (Garry Kasparov, GM Alexander Chernin and Michael Khodarkovsky) for support and encouragement. Apart from that thanks to Bill Goichberg, Greg Shahade, Jennifer Shahade and GM Maxim Dlugy and all the chess enthusiasts who donated on Abhimanyu's Gofundme page.
Three trainers who made a huge impact on Abhimanyu's chess career (L to R): Arun Prasad, Magesh Chandran and Anuprita Patil
WFM Anuprita Patil laid the foundation, GM Magesh Chandran worked on the basics of his middlegame and endgame understanding, and GM Arun Prasad worked with him extensively to broaden his opening repertoire among other things.
Speaking to ChessBase India, GM Arun Prasad said:
Abhimanyu is a hard working kid. His thirst for knowledge is immense. I am working with him since he was six. Basically there were no difficult concepts for him. I can teach him anything and everything and he will understand it relatively easily. He has a phenomenal memory, excellent calculation and most importantly he is hard working. Definitely we will see him among the world's top players in a few years.
Arun further added:
You asked me only about Abhimanyu but I also need to make a comment about his father's contribution. He should not be an unsung hero. His father is the true strength behind his success. As we know how difficult it is to handle kids. He inspires him to work hard and keeps him motivated.
GM Magesh Chandran speaking to ChessBase India said:
Abhimanyu is full of energy. He just loves chess so much, he will talk about moves and analysis and go on different tangents about his games. Our sessions routinely go over the scheduled one hour. I remember meeting Nihal Sarin in 2017 at the Isle of Man. Nihal was rated right around my rating and as a result we used to play right next to each other for several rounds. Since I got to see so many of his games, I would sometimes ask him about it and that’s all it took, Nihal would rant out his analysis and his decisions about the moves — it was fascinating to see that and I see the same quality in Abhi. It’s so easy to talk about chess to him because he is already dying to!
Lastly, I remember a funny anecdote. When Surya Ganguly did a training camp a few years back, Abhi was rated around 1800 or so... The class had all top players like Brandon Jacobson and Praveen Balakrishnan, who have both gone on to become IMs and are on their way to GM title. One of the players raised his hand and complained to Surya saying Abhi is looking at his answers, when Surya asked Abhi, he promptly responded saying, 'He is lying. I was not looking at his answer, I was looking at this other person's answer!’ Pointing his finger to the other student to his left! Surya of course couldn’t stop laughing about it!
Being inducted in the Kasparov Chess Foundation program boosted Abhimanyu's confidence
One of the movies that inspired Abhimanyu to work hard on chess was the Farhan Akhtar feature Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. "I would like to thank Milkha Singh and the cast of "Bhag Milkha Bhag", says Hemant. "It provided constant inspiration to Abhimanyu during his painful journey. He watched this movie many times and understood what it takes to be world-beater."
After a poor event, Milkha Singh asks his coach to write down on a piece of paper what the current 400-metre record is in the world. The video starts with this scene and then shows the way he trained to become better.
The Milkha Singh training that inspired Abhimanyu
Milkha Singh's message to all sportsmen out there
Swati Mishra, Abhimanyu's mother, took care of everything at home, to ensure that Abhimanyu and his father could travel to events
So what are Abhimanyu's aims now?
"His short term goal is to become the youngest GM in history. He will play in more closed GM invitational events in near future all over the world. The long term goal is become World Champion one day and rule the world of chess the same way as his idol GM Garry Kasparov did for many years", says Hemant.
Learn the opening of the masters from one of the world's most popular master trainers! Daniel King shows you a rock-solid and powerful Najdorf repertoire.
This six-year-old boy who held fort against Fabiano Caruana for the longest duration during a simul four years ago, is now the youngest IM in the history of the game!
Abhimanyu's analysis
From the event where Abhimanyu scored his final IM norm, he decided to send two of his games against GM Oliver Barbosa and IM Andrew Hong:
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.e4d52.exd5Qxd53.Nc3Qd64.d4Nf65.Bc4a66.Nf3b57.Bb3e68.Qe2I played this move as black will play c5 next then after dxc5 he would trade
queens and I might not be able to exploit my lead in devolopment.Bb79.Be3?!this is too passive instead9.0-0was better as next the bishop will
go to Bg5 and if h6 then white should play Bxf6 followed by Ne4.Be710.Bg50-010...h6?11.Bxf6!Bxf612.d5!±11.Bxf6Bxf612.Ne4=9...Nbd710.0-0Be711.h30-012.Rad1c5!13.dxc5Qc7Now black has a
slight edge as my Bb3 is not doing anything.14.Bd4Bxc515.Bxc5Nxc516.Qe3Rfd816...Nxb3?!Any exchange on b3 would help white as it was not
doing anything.17.cxb317.a3Qc618.Rd4Rxd419.Qxd4Qc720.Qe3Rd821.Rd1Rxd1+22.Nxd1Kf8even this ending is unplesant for white for the
same reason as above: The white bishop is a terrible piece though this
position should be holdable.23.Nc3Qc624.Qd4Ke8the king is in no
danger in the center as his pieces are well placed.25.Ba2Ncd726.Bb3Nc527.Ba2Hoping for a repitition but of course he keeps pressing.Ke728.Nd1!?Bringing the knight to e3 and preparing c2-c4.Qd6!this was idea:
After the exchange of queens his king will be further activated.29.Qxd6+Kxd630.Nd2Nfe431.Nxe4+?!31.Nf1!was better keeping more pieces on
the board as is king is already well centralized.31...Bxe432.c4I tried
to activate my bishop on a2 and advancing my queenside majority.32.Ne3?
I didn't like this move because of the following reply:Na4!33.b433.b3?Nc333...Nc334.Bb3Ke5and my bishop will never see light.32...bxc433.Bxc4Bd334.Bxd3Nxd335.Kf1Kd536.Ke2Kd4in this ending
black is better as his king and knight are way better than mine.37.Kd2f538.f3g6!The hasty38...e5?!would allow39.Ne3with the double
threat of on taking on f5 and Nc2+ Kc4 b3+ winning the knight.39.b339.b4would reach the game position down a tempo.39...Nc540.b4Nd341.Ne3Ne542.Nc2+Kc443.a4Nc644.b5axb545.Na3+Kb446.axb5?!this might draw
but the easier way was46.Nxb5Kxa447.Nc7e548.Kc3when my king will
come to d5 and then it should be a simple draw as his knight will never be
freed.One sample line is:Ka549.Kc4Ne750.Nd5!Nc651.Nf6h652.Kd5=46...Nd8!I missed this move protecting e6.46...Ne5?47.Nc2+Kxb548.Nd4+wins the pawn back.46...Nd4is a draw in the following
forcing line.47.Kd3Nxb548.Nxb5Kxb549.Kd4Kc650.Ke5Kd751.Kf6Kd652.f4!52.Kg7??e5-+52...Kd553.Kg7Ke454.Kxh7Kxf455.Kxg6e556.h4e457.h5e358.h6e259.h7e1Q60.h8Qand this is a draw. One
sample line isQg3+61.Kf761.Kf6??Qc3+-+61...Qxg262.Qh4+Qg463.Qf2+Qf364.Qh4+Ke365.Qe1+Qe266.Qg3+Ke467.Qg6‼=prevents f4
and just draws.47.Nc2+Kxb548.f4this should be a draw as black will
not be able to create a passed pawn without many pawn exchanges.Kc549.Ke3Nc6in this position if white could get his knight to g5 or f8 he would win a
pawn.50.Ne1!heading towards g5 as f8 is unrealistic.Nb451.g3
Of course not51.Nf3?as black wins a pawn.Nd5+-+51...Nd5+52.Kd3Nf653.Ke353.Nf3also holds because of a fantastic resourceNe454.Ke3‼54.g4?Nf2+-+54...Kd654...Nxg355.Ng5=55.g453...Ne454.Nd3+Kd555.Kf3Nd2+56.Ke2Nc457.Kf2!Not57.Kf3because of
e5!-+as taking on e5 will lead to a winning pawn ending and if you
dont take it he will play e4 creating a dangerous protected passed pawn.57...h658.h4preventing g5Nd659.Nb4+Ke460.Na6Nb761.Nc7Nc562.Ke2e563.fxe5Kxe564.Kf3Ne665.Nb5g566.hxg5hxg567.Ke3Nc568.Nd4Ne469.Nf3+Kd5now many moves draw but the simplest one is70.Nxg5!=Nxg571.Kf4Ne472.Kxf5Nxg3+½–½
The Modern Pirc is actually a mixture of the Caro-Kann and the Pirc. In many lines Black combines the ideas of the classical Pirc in which the fianchettoed bishop is important with the Caro-Kann idea to fight for the center with c6-d5.
The Caro Kann is a very tricky opening. Black’s play is based on controlling and fighting for key light squares. It is a line which was very fashionable in late 90s and early 2000s due to the successes of greats like Karpov, Anand, Dreev etc. Recently due to strong engines lot of key developments have been made and some new lines have been introduced, while others have been refuted altogether. I have analyzed the new trends carefully and found some new ideas for Black.
To ensure that Abhimanyu keeps growing as a chess player at a rapid pace, the family needs financial support. Most of Abhimanyu's father's time is spent in ensuring that his son can take part in different events in the US and the world. Any contribution from your end towards Abhimanyu's career will go a long way in helping him become a strong chess player.
Sagar ShahSagar is an International Master from India with two GM norms. He loves to cover chess tournaments, as that helps him understand and improve at the game he loves so much. He is the co-founder and CEO of ChessBase India, the biggest chess news portal in the country. His YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, and to date close to a billion views. ChessBase India is the sole distributor of ChessBase products in India and seven adjoining countries, where the software is available at a 60% discount. compared to International prices.
Ruy Lopez Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 12092 games from Mega 2025 and the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 1276 are annotated.
In this 60 Minutes, Andrew Martin guides you through all the key ideas you need to know to play with confidence. Whether you’re looking to surprise your opponents, or simply want a straightforward weapon against e5, the Centre Attack has you covered.
Videos by Mihail Marin: Najdorf Variation with 6.f4 and Nico Zwirs: Italian ‘giucco pianissimo’. ‘Lucky bag’ with 45 analyses by Edouard, Ftacnik, Gupta, Pelletier and others. Update service with over 50,000 new games for your database!
This video course provides a comprehensive and practical White repertoire in the Ruy Lopez! Through instructive model games and in-depth theoretical explanations, you will learn how to confidently handle both main lines and sidelines.
Chess Festival Prague 2025 with analyses by Aravindh, Giri, Gurel, Navara and others. ‘Special’: 27 highly entertaining miniatures. Opening videos by Werle, King and Ris. 10 opening articles with new repertoire ideas and much more.
€21.90
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.
Pop-up for detailed settings
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies, analysis cookies and marketing cookies. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. Please note that your selection may affect the functionality of the service. Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
Technically required cookies
Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences.
Analysis Cookies
To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience.
Marketing-Cookies
To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement.